Week 2 is already bringing the usual injury churn, and the first real alarm bell of the week is in Detroit.
The Lions will be without two starting offensive linemen when they face the Bills on Thursday night: right tackle Blake Miller (knee) and left guard Christian Mahogany (hip) have both been ruled out. That leaves Detroit shorthanded up front in one of the week’s marquee matchups.
Veteran defensive back D.J. Reed is also on the report with a foot injury and is questionable after limited work in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Buffalo has its own question marks. Safety Cole Bishop (knee/groin), running back Ty Johnson (hamstring), and defensive lineman T.J.
Sanders (knee/illness) are all listed as questionable. Each was limited in practice on Wednesday.
The Lions-Bills game is the only contest with final statuses already attached in the week’s report, but there are plenty of other notable names to track as the rest of the slate takes shape.
In Carolina, pass rusher Patrick Jones II missed the opener with a back issue and sat out again on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Bobby Brown III also did not practice. Wide receiver Jalen Coker was limited with an ankle injury after a huge opening week - eight catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns - and he was seen in a walking boot earlier this week, though he is still aiming to play Sunday.
Tennessee got a good update on linebacker Cedric Gray, who has cleared concussion protocol after missing the season opener against Chicago. He was a full participant on Wednesday. Fellow linebacker James Williams was limited because of an elbow issue.
Washington’s injury list includes linebacker Frankie Luvu (groin) and tight end Chig Okonkwo (hamstring), both of whom missed practice on Wednesday. Pass rushers Dorance Armstrong (knee), K’Lavon Chaisson (knee), Charles Omenihu (ankle), and Odafe Oweh (calf) were limited, along with defensive tackle Daron Payne (knee) and wide receiver Jaylin Lane (groin).
The rest of the Week 2 board is still waiting on updates, but the injury picture is already taking shape around the league after a messy opening weekend. Among the reported Week 1 hits: Kyler Murray’s Vikings debut ended in the first quarter because of a concussion, the Chargers lost standout receiver Ladd McConkey in their upset loss to the Cardinals, and Sam Darnold is dealing with a soft tissue injury that knocked him out of the opener in the first quarter and will keep him out in Week 2.
The first weekend also sent Patriots wideout A.J. Brown (ankle), Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson (knee), and Rams pass rusher Myles Garett (knee) to IR.
In Other News...
Bills Penalty Numbers Look Ugly But The Real Damage Is Up For Debate
A close look at the penalty ledger from Buffalos game against Houston makes the numbers look worse than the reality of how the afternoon unfolded. The Bills were flagged more often and finished with the higher harm total, but the breakdown suggests something more nuanced than a team simply beating itself, with most of Buffalos calls described as warranted and only a few turning into real momentum swings.
Houstons penalties carried their own bite, too, even if the raw count did not tell the full story. Two of the Texans flags stood out for how much field position and down-and-distance they altered, which is why the debate around this game is less about who was penalized and more about which calls actually changed what happened next. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Fans Get A Wild New Game Day Twist For Lions Opener
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For a building that is already about to host its first regular-season game, the promotion adds a little extra novelty to an already big night in Orchard Park. Buffalo is also trying to keep its early-season momentum going and move to 2-0, so the opener is shaping up as more than just a first look at the new stadium - it is another chance to give the home crowd something to remember. [Read more 🡒]
Mahomes Just Made The Bills' AFC Climb Look Even Tougher
Patrick Mahomes picked up right where he left off, steering the Kansas City Chiefs to a dominant Week 1 win over the Denver Broncos after returning from a season-ending ACL and LCL injury. For everyone else chasing the AFC crown, especially Josh Allen and the Bills, it was a reminder that the road back to the conference title still runs through the leagues most established postseason force.
The timing matters in Buffalo, where the Bills are trying to navigate another season with title expectations and the pressure that comes with a changing AFC landscape. Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow are in the same conversation with new coaching staffs and the same familiar burden of trying to catch Kansas City, and the Chiefs latest showing only sharpened the challenge. For the Bills, every step forward still has to account for a quarterback who has already made so many playoff roads look shorter than they really are. [Read more 🡒]